Game-Changing Transformations in Overwatch: Unveiling the Most Contentious Hero Revamps in History
From Widowmaker's deadly snipes to Brigitte's impactful support, Overwatch's history has been marked by controversial hero changes Discover the transformative reworks of Cole Cassidy, Mercy, and Doomfist that have stirred up the community
Highlights
Overwatch 2 has seen significant changes since its initial release, including a shift from 6v6 to 5v5 and reworks of maps and characters.
Many fan-favorite heroes such as Widowmaker, Brigitte, Cole Cassidy, Mercy, and Doomfist have received kit adjustments based on player feedback and the evolving meta. These changes have generated mixed reactions among the community. Likewise, the reworked abilities of heroes like Orisa, Mei, Sombra, and Hanzo, such as Orisa's original kit, Mei's slow ability, Sombra's invisibility, and Hanzo's Scatter Arrow, have ignited debates. It is highly probable that upcoming patches will introduce further reworks that continue to divide the fan base.
Overwatch 2 has undergone significant changes since its first release in 2016. One of the standout changes was Blizzard's decision to switch from a 6v6 format to a 5v5 format, aiming to reduce wait times and promote quicker team battles. Over the years, there have been various revisions made to both maps and characters, addressing controversial aspects.
Since its early access launch in October 2022, Overwatch 2 has experienced numerous alterations. Currently, the game features six new characters, expanding the hero roster to a total of 38. As time has passed, many of these characters' abilities have been adjusted in response to the ever-evolving meta.
Widowmaker
Widowmaker's place in the game has always sparked debate, as some players believed she lacked effective counters. Her ability to eliminate enemies with a single shot from a distance, detached from the team fight, was seen by many as not aligning with the game's overall style. To address this concern, Blizzard has consistently made adjustments to her damage fall-off. In 2016, she could instantly kill with just one body shot, but now she must be within 50 meters to achieve this.
Brigitte
Upon her release in 2018, Brigitte was swiftly deemed one of the most overpowered heroes. Consequently, the emergence of the GOATS meta became inevitable, with its standard inclusion of three Tanks and three Supports. Lucio, D.Va, and Brigitte played crucial roles in this composition, resulting in remarkably high win rates for teams adhering to this strategy. Those who failed to mirror this approach were unlikely to secure victory. Subsequently, role-locks were introduced, leading to adjustments in Brigitte's shield health and a nerf to Shield Bash.
Cole Cassidy
Mercy
The former Blizzard employee Jesse McCree, who was once known as the DPS cowboy, underwent a name change due to sexual harassment lawsuits. Cole Cassidy emerged as his new persona. However, Cassidy faced a challenging situation as Overwatch 2 aimed to eliminate stuns from the game. As a result, his kit was one of the first to undergo modifications. The flashbang, a skill that previously immobilized enemies, was replaced with the Magnetic Grenade. Unfortunately, the developers have reworked this new ability multiple times, indicating some uncertainty regarding its implementation for Cassidy.
The hero Mercy has become a subject of intense debate within the Overwatch community due to her unique playstyle, which prioritizes supporting her teammates rather than focusing on personal achievements. Her mobility, ability to enhance damage output, and formidable resurrect skill have consistently garnered attention. In the past, prior to 2017, she possessed the ability to revive all nearby allies simultaneously. However, critics argued that this incentivized her to conceal herself in order to maximize its effectiveness. As a result, her resurrect ability was subsequently altered to be limited to a single individual at a time, with a cooldown period of thirty seconds.
Doomfist
Doomfist players have been expressing their concerns about this Tank hero for a while now, despite the fact that he used to be classified as a damage hero. The decision to change him into a Tank has been devastating for one-trick players and those who believed Doomfist could work effectively as a DPS. Moreover, the alterations made to Doomfist have resulted in numerous issues, with the community noting as many as fifty active bugs on July 18.
Other hero changes that have sparked controversy include Orisa's original kit from the first Overwatch, Mei's slow ability, Sombra's invisibility, and Hanzo's Scatter Arrow. It is likely that more reworks are in the pipeline as Blizzard focuses on future seasons. Sombra and Roadhog have already been confirmed for upcoming patches. While Blizzard strives to maintain a balanced meta, it is inevitable that some decisions will not sit well with the community. Hopefully, Aaron Keller and Team 4 will continue to listen to player feedback.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
